New Rendering: BMW 1M in Red Color

In less than three months, BMW will unveil one of their most hyped and awaited vehicles in the past decade: BMW 1 Series M Coupe …

In less than three months, BMW will unveil one of their most hyped and awaited vehicles in the past decade: BMW 1 Series M Coupe or 1M, as many of us call it. 1M will join the M Division lineup and will replace the M3 as the company’s entry-level M model.

As seen in this rendering by AutoBild, the new 1M receives the LED treatment as the upcoming 1 Series Coupe and Cabrio facelifts. Interesting enough, this rendering shows a carbon fiber roof and even the magazine mentions the possibility of being offered as a factory-option.

Despite its looks closer to the 135i Coupe model, the new 1 Series M Coupe is almost an entirely different car. Almost every suspension part is different. The springs are stiffer and the dampers have less travel, the bushings of the trailing arms are changed from rubber to joint balls and some rubber ones are stiffer.

The suspension cannot be adjusted – also to keep the cost down. The front axle carrier is the same as in the 135i, but in the rear the one of the M3 is used.

The body is lowered by 10 mm (0.4 in) and the track is approximately 30 mm wider up front and between 30 to 40 mm wider at the rear. The brakes are completely different from the 135i Coupe with M Compound brakes.

BMW 1M is powered by an engine based on N54 twin-turbo delivering 340 horsepower. Engine is matted to a six-speed manual. The new M makes its world debut at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show and it will be available in three colors: Alpine White, Jet Black and Valencia Orange Metallic.